How To Smoke Cannabis From A Pipe

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Freelance Cannabis Journalist

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Last updated: June 12, 2023

Whether it's your choice method or not, learning to pack and smoke a bowl is an essential weed-related skill. Not to mention, pipes are, without a doubt, one of the best ways to smoke cannabis. Using a pipe has some huge benefits, including using up less of your weed and saving time. After all, it’s quicker to smoke a bowl than a joint.

Besides that, there are tons of reasons to start using a pipe. If this is your first time purchasing and using one, you’ve come to the right place! This guide to smoking cannabis from a pipe will teach you everything you need to know to get started.

Pipe Parts

First thing's first: let's consider the anatomy. All weed pipes consist of four main parts:

• Bowl

Found at the end of the pipe, the bowl is where you put—or "pack"—your ground cannabis. Despite how it sounds, “packing” doesn't mean you need to fill the bowl to its brim. How much weed you pack is entirely up to your preference.

• Carb (Carb Hole)

The carb is a small hole that can usually found on the sides of pipes. Using your finger, you can use the carb to control how much smoke you imbibe.

• Chamber (Or Stem)

Moving on up, the chamber—or stem, depending on the pipe—is the holding area, where the smoke stews. The chamber is where the smoke collects before you inhale which is controlled with the carb.

• Mouthpiece

Last but not least, the mouthpiece sits at the other end of the pipe. This is where you rest your lips and inhale from as you light your cannabis.

Types Of Pipes

If you're looking for your first weed pipe, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by how many choices there are. Pipes come in a variety of options: different shapes, sizes, materials, colours, you name it. Although glass pipes are the most common, they’re also made of different materials. From wood and glass to soapstone, silicone, or metal, each type has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of the most common varieties.

Spoon Pipe

You've probably seen a spoon pipe, whether you've realised it or not. Spoons are the most common weed pipes out there, and they're excellent for beginners! The main feature of this pipe is a bowl at the end. Widely available in places where marijuana has been legalised, it's not uncommon to spot them in the wild. Since they’re often still marketed as tobacco smoking accessories, especially in the United States, you can even buy them in gas stations and gift shops. For the most part, spoon pipes are usually made with glass, but you can also find them made out of silicone, wood, clay, ceramic, or even crystals.

Pros:

• Affordable and highly available.
• Great for beginners, since they're easy to use.
• Usually small, and therefore easy to conceal.
• Many designs on the market.

Cons:

• Clog easily (and quickly get dirty) due to their shape.
• Lack of filtration makes for a drier, harsher smoke.

Gandalf

As the name suggests, Gandalf pipes invoke the image of a wizened wizard. Usually made with wood or glass, Gandalf pipes are characterised by their deep bowl and lengthy, curved stem. This stem length makes for a smoother experience, too, as there’s a longer path for the smoke to travel from its source to your mouth.

Pros:

• Smoother, more pleasurable smoke.
• Affordable and easy to find.
• They offer a deeper bowl to pack more weed.

Cons:

• Large, and therefore not discreet.
• More fragile due to their slim, curved stem.

Sherlock

Sherlock pipes, as you’d suspect, are named after the famous fictional detective. You'll have seen them before, maybe even in your grandfather's hand! These sophisticated pipes are most often made of wood or glass. They’re also shaped similarly to Gandalf pipes, although they’re similar to spoon pipes in terms of size. Overall, Sherlock pipes ace in functionality; they’re hardy, yet they fit in the palm of your hand.

Pros:

• Curved stem cools and mellows the smoke.
• Classic design that looks cool without losing functionality.
• Super comfortable and easy to hold.
• Deep bowl making it great for sharing.

Cons:

• Difficult to clean properly.

One-Hitter

Sometimes, you call a spade a spade. That's also the case with one-hitters. One-hitters—sometimes called "bats"—are small pipes designed for a single hit. These slender tubes are characteristically covert, some even painted to resemble cigarettes. One-hitters are perfect for taking with you on the go, whether you’re out for the night or just headed to work.

Pros:

• Small size & cigarette-like exterior makes for discreet smoking.
• Cheap (often under €10).

Cons:

• Frequent refills can be a pain, especially when you’re moving around.

Chillum

A chillum is similar to a one-hitter, though holds more than a single toke. While there are many designs and materials on the market, all chillums feature a larger bowl. Made up of a straight tube, chillums are a great alternative to one-hitters if you want more than one toke at a time.

Pros:

• Small and portable.

Cons:

• Make for a less relaxed smoke.

Bubblers

A combination of a bong and spoon pipe, bubblers are hand-held water pipes named after the sound they make when smoked. Like a bong, bubblers use water filtration to deliver a cooler, chiller smoke, and some contain a percolator that aerates the smoke. Unlike a bong, however, the majority of bubblers have fixed bowls, along with a carb to be covered with your finger when lighting up.

Pros:

• The water filtration system makes it lighter on the lungs.
• The bowls are larger than with most pipes, so you can smoke more.

Cons:

• Difficult to fill, and even harder to drain.
• Their size, along with their inclusion of water, makes them difficult to conceal.

How To Smoke Cannabis From A Pipe

Whether you're new to weed or not, it's never too late to learn how to smoke a pipe! Now, once you have your chosen pipe, you'll need a few extra things to make the most out of it.

What Do You Need To Smoke Cannabis From A Pipe?

Besides your pipe and weed, there are a few tools that could come in handy when smoking from a pipe.

1. Pipe Tamper/Tool

While optional, pipe tampers are helpful gadgets. These small tools are designed to aid in packing, smoking, and emptying your pipe.

Pipe Tool

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2. Pipe Screens

These optional accessories are round filters usually made of mesh or glass. Acting similar to coffee filters, pipe screens keep your grounds in the bowl so they don't hit your mouth.

Steel Screens (100 pcs)

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3. A Lighter

An actual lighter will do just fine here, but personally, we recommend hemp wicks. Simply enough, hemp won’t alter the taste of your weed like a lighter or match would.

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Smoking Cannabis From a Pipe, Step By Step

As we mentioned before, smoking weed out of a pipe is an essential weed-related skill to master. In fact, once you know how, it might even become your preferred method! With that out of the way, let's get to it.

1. Grind Your Weed (Don't Hand-Shred)

Use a weed grinder ensures you get an even burn, giving you the maximum effect possible. Weed grinders are both cheap and one of the best investments you can make as a cannabis smoker.

Premium Grinder (Zamnesia)

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2. Place the Screen in the Bowl

If you're using a pipe screen, position it at the bottom of the bowl before you pack your weed. Use a pen or, if you have it, a tamper tool to make sure it's in place.

3. Pack Your Bowl Right for Optimal Hits

Before packing, make sure your weed is well-ground. Once that's done, you can start packing your herb! We recommend packing lightly on the bottom and more densely at the top. This'll give you a more even and enjoyable smoking experience.

4. Light Your Bowl

The best way of sparking up depends on what you're using to light it.
If you’re using a match, let it burn for a few seconds before lighting. If using a lighter or hemp wick, just apply the flame to the weed straight away.

5. Corner It

To corner your bowl, dip the flame over a green part of the bowl’s rim instead of directly lighting your greens.

6. Use the Carb

The carb hole is essential for catering your own experience. Place your finger or thumb over the carb while you're lighting up. Then when you're ready to inhale, lift it off. The longer the smoke stays in the chamber, the heavier it'll be.

7 & 8. Inhale the Right Way

To inhale properly, draw the smoke into your mouth. Once it's there, take a deep breath of air to fill your chest. Note: there's no evidence that holding your breath longer will get you higher.

Extra Tips

If using your pipe for the first time was a struggle, don't worry about it. Just keep doing it and, soon, it'll be like riding a bike.

If you've heard your pipe gurgling, it's easily fixable. All a gurgle means is that there's too much moisture in the stem. To fix it, dip a pipe cleaner into the mouthpiece for a second or two, and you'll be golden. You can also avoid that dreaded sound by keeping your mouth as dry as you can.

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If the pipe gets too hot for you to hold, just let it go out. Once it's cooled, you can light up again. If you find your pipe heating up often, make sure you're not burning the weed too hot. That not only makes the pipe hard to hold, but ruins the taste of your weed as well. When you're finished, allow the pipe to cool down, and then clean it. 

Our Weed Pipe Recommendations

No matter what kind of pipe you're looking to start with, we've got a range to suit all tastes, and budgets.

On A Budget?

This simple and beautiful psychedelic glass offers jazzy patterns and bright colors while still being very affordable. It'll look cool in your hand, but stay discreet enough for stealthy smoking wherever you are. You can't go wrong with this little pipe!

Glass Pipe (Royal Queen Seeds)

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Don’t Break The Bank

Both stylish and easy to clean, this hybrid pipe gives you the smoothest smoking experience around. It's designed with comfort in mind; the wave-y stem shape provides a resting space for your fingers, and offers maximum stability in turn. If you're looking for something low-key and stylish that doesn't break the bank, this one's for you.

Treat Yourself!

This fancy, rustic spoon pipe brings class to your smoking experience. With a design that offers smooth hits and an exterior featuring hand-blown and heat-resistant glass, along with a natural walnut finish, you'll feel its luxury every time you toke. Its detachable parts make cleaning it a simple process, too, and it’ll last longer as a result.

By Design

If you're all about timeless design, why not go for this classic Sherlock pipe? This raw, eco-friendly pipe will have you feeling like a detective from the second your lips touch it. With detachable parts, deep bowl, detailed branding, and a rustic vibe, it just doesn't get better for the eco-conscious. It even comes with a pouch!